Vishwajyot School uses mythology to explain evolution

DNMUM228615 | 11/24/2011 | Author : Sameera Kapoor | WC :277

The institute has been following the module for the past 7 years
Kharghar-based Vishwajyot High School is trying to make science a livelier subject for students. For more than 7 years, the institute has been following a teaching module that makes the study of evolution not only interesting but also easy to recall."Every culture has its own story, its own myth that helps define itself. These stories have been passed on from generation to generation and affect our world view. We have tried to harness these stories and use them to teach complex scientific concepts such as evolution," says Sushma Dhumal, director, Vishwajyot High School, Kharghar.In this uncommon marriage of myth and logic, the 10 reincarnations of Lord Vishnu, as mentioned in the Hindu scriptures, is merged with scienRead full story

tific observation of evolution across standards. At the primary level, students are given an insight into evolution through storytelling. When they go to higher classes, the scientific aspect of evolution is imparted as a part of biology. "We have thorough understanding of evolution because in our classes we are taught to relate the stories of Vishnu's Dashavatar with the scientific theory of evolution. That makes it so much easy to understand and even remember. The symbolic representation of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu starting with fish, turtle before eventually going into human form has parallels with wherein it is believed that living organisms started their journey in aquatic regions before travelling to territorial space," said Anuja Indulkar, a standard X student. The school management says that students have internalised the Dashavatar myth as part of story telling in standard III. In standard VI, while studying biology, the story was referred to by teachers to explain the concept of evolution.

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